BUFF – the leading film festival for diversity in the world – has found a new home for its annual showpiece after BT agreed to sponsor the seven day event for 2017.

Under the terms of the deal, from September this year, BT will host every film festival event (including the BUFF Awards) at the iconic BT Tower in London, a venue which isn’t usually open to the public. BT will also share the awards ceremony on BT.com and will also have the opportunity to screen films acquired from BUFF on the BT TV store platform.

For BUFF, it is a major coup and comes just 12 months after coming top in a global list of diverse film festivals to attend.

BUFF founder and CEO Emmanuel Anyiam-Osigwe said: “There’s nothing quite like going to the cinema to experience film though we can now safely say that come September there will be nothing quite like going to the BT Tower to experience film. The BT British Urban Film Festival will enable BT to showcase the breadth of great creative talent from the leading film festival for diversity in the world”.

Tony Singh, Business Affairs and Business Development Director, BT TV said: “We are delighted to be working with the British Urban Film Festival. It is leading the way in celebrating diversity in film, and as the UK’s fastest growing TV platform, this is a great festival we are proud to support. Our famous BT Tower, which has long been a part of TV broadcasting in the UK, will be the home of BUFF, and will allow film fans to enjoy the movies and experience the unique views across London.”

Audiences will be required to pay a minimum of £15 to attend a festival event when tickets go on sale at the end of June. Tickets for the BUFF Awards will be charged at £125 per person.

ENDS

Notes to editors

About BUFF

The British Urban Film Festival was founded by award-winning film exhibitor Emmanuel Anyiam-Osigwe in July 2005. To date, the festival has screened over 500 films, securing broadcast platforms for BAME and urban independent writers, actors, actresses, producers and directors on the BBC i-player, Channel 4, Community Channel and London Live. In September 2015, BUFF launched its’ own awards and honours system to showcase creative talent that has been championed by the festival.

BT’s purpose is to use the power of communications to make a better world. It is one of the world’s leading providers of communications services and solutions, serving customers in 180 countries. Its principal activities include the provision of networked IT services globally; local, national and international telecommunications services to its customers for use at home, at work and on the move; broadband, TV and internet products and services; and converged fixed-mobile products and services. BT consists of six customer-facing lines of business: Consumer, EE, Business and Public Sector, Global Services, Wholesale and Ventures, and Openreach.

For the year ended 31 March 2017, BT Group’s reported revenue was £24,062m with reported profit before taxation of £2,354m.

British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group plc and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group. BT Group plc is listed on stock exchanges in London and New York.